David Berkowitz just posted 100 ways to measure social media. If you read it, I think you’ll find yourself saying ok….I knew that…hmm…now that’s interesting….he’s on a roll.

I look forward to the next 100 because his first 100 gets better as you go showing just how ‘monetizable’ social media really is.

As David humbly says, “it’s a start” but I wonder if established channels like TV, print, radio and outdoor had to come up with a similar list, could they even come up with this many and have it be half as interesting?

If you’re a Stones fan, I hope it makes you smile, especially since it comes from the era when the Stones are at the height of their powers. It’s the beginning conversation with some interesting creative direction for one of their best records ever, Sticky Fingers.

For everyone who puts themselves and what they do out there, everyday, in an economy where people are taking less risks, cutting budgets, asking you to do more for less and having new company restrictions, I hope it also serves as an indication these are cycles and we do return to times when we’re more trusting of one another’s judgements.

P.S. Andy never followed Mick’s advice to produce a less complicated album design. Sticky Fingers had a zipper front and center that caused scratching and stacking problems yet went on to be one of the most popular album covers of all time. A reason to let go on the restrictions and the risks and see the results of a little trust.

In documentary film circles, Chris Taylor is a well-known name. Outside of that, less so. Hopefully, that’s about to change.

I was fortunate to be invited to a screening of his documentary, Food Fight. As the title says, FoodFight is about a fight. This one is about small farmers getting their due, making a living while giving us something essential – great tasting, nutritious food.

They fight the mandate of large agribusiness and our government who produce the most food for the lowest cost. The outcome of which is heavily processed foods that undermine small farmers while ruining our health. As Michael Pollan say in the movie, “it’s quite an accomplishment how we became so fat, so fast.”

But the real story is consumer empowerment. Here are 5 best practices I learned from Chris about consumer empowerment.

1. INCUBATE: Start with an embryo where a small group gets together. All share similar interests, are not totally sure what they’re doing but start positive change. Here, it is the Berkley CA food movement and Alice Waters.

2. SHOW WHAT’S BROKEN: Juxtapose the new versus the somehow misguided old way of thinking. In the film, pasty tomatoes in cellophane containers and conveyor belts of TV dinners seem wrong when people can taste great produce at farmer’s markets now more accessible than ever.

3. TELL PERSONAL STORIES: Highlight the people leading the charge. Let them tell you why they did what they did.

4. START WITH SMALL STEPS NOW: Spell out little things you should do, today – demand to see the ingredients in the school cafeteria foods your kids eats, go to a farmer’s market, cook dinner with fresh foods and eat as a family.

5. GIVING: Make it clear what is most important is this is available to all. The real benefit comes from introducing someone to something new and finding they like it. Plus, results happen much faster.